Four Winds Vineyard, at Murrumbateman, has won five awards in the 2024 Melbourne Royal Awards – including the show’s top prize, the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy.
The other four trophies, presented on Friday, came for its 2023 shiraz, which won the Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz; the Douglas Seabrook Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine; the Best NSW/ACT Shiraz and the Kym Ludvigsen Trophy for Viticultural Excellence.
Sarah and John Collingwood, who own and manage the small, family run vineyard and winery, described the five wins as “an incredible honour”.
“To win five awards is just amazing and totally unexpected. We’re delighted,” said Ms Collingwood, who in 2010 took over, with her husband, the12-hectare vineyard established by her parents 26 years ago.
“Winning the Jimmy Watson is something we have always aspired to and the other four awards are the icing on the cake.”
Ms Collingwood said the award-winning shiraz held a special place in their hearts. “The photo on the front of the bottle is of a sheet on the washing line that sits between the shiraz and sangiovese blocks at Four Winds Vineyard. Beside the sheet is a pair of children’s trousers. They belong to one of our children, aged one at the time,” she said.
“Our children are now nine and 12, and that label reminds us of how our business and family have grown together.”
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